The Pearl Pirate football motto for 2012 is "Win The Day." However, their formula for winning is the question on every fans mind.

Much like the brethren at Northwest Rankin High School, the Pearl Pirates have to replace a starting quarterback and running back who helped lead their playoff push last season. But the Pirates also have to replace Southern Miss freshman receiver D.J. Thompson.

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This is all part of the game in high school athletics. The cycle of replenishing talent takes hold and for these players it's now becomes their time to shine.

"It's like a dream come true," said Pearl senior quarterback Evan Osborne. "Sophomore year was the last time I played quarterback so I get to live it up right now."

"We're going to be good, no matter what," said senior defensive back Erin Jones. "When I'm gone next year they'll still be good because we have a great coaching staff."

That coaching staff will have to adapt with the times. Some programs plug and play athletes into a pre-determined scheme, not so at Pearl, and that's a good thing.

"Sometimes you have to adapt to what's going on and we have have some good friends (at other schools) that has had some success running spread option stuff," said head coach John Perry. "We think we have the talent to spread the field."

"He practically based the whole offense around me," said Osborne.

"When Evan gets the ball in his hands, either he's going to throw or run with it and when he takes off with it, I don't see too many people trying to come up in the open field and tackle him," said Jones.

This season, the coaching staff gave all 20 seniors a piece of paper and asked them to write down their three goals for the upcoming campaign. Only one goal was on every single sheet.

Beating Brandon.

"All 20 of them put down their goal is to beat Brandon and that's the way it's been ever since I've been here," said Perry.

"I cannot wait to play them (Brandon)," said Osborne. "They're just that rival that we can't get wait to get on the field and hit."